Apparatus for filling containers with explosives



Dec. 11 1923.

T. M. DAVIDSON APPARATUS FOR FILLING CONTAINERS WITH EXPLOSIVES FiledJuly 31, 1918 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Dec. 11 1923,

Filed July 31, 1918 2 Sheets-Sheet 3 ATTORNEYS Patented Dec. 11, 1923.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFIQE.

THOMAS MALCOLM DAVIDSON, OF WILMINGTON, DELAWARE, ASSIGNOR TO E. I. DUPONT DE NEMOURS 8; COMPANY, OF WILMINGTON, DELAWARE, A CORPORATION OIDELAWARE.

APPARATUS FOR FILLING CONTAINERS WITH EXPLOSIVES.

Application filed July 31, 1918. Serial No. 247,546.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, THOMAS MALCOLM DAVIDSON,a subject of the King of Great Britain, of lVilmington, in the county ofNew Castle and in the State of Delaware,

have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Apparatus forFilling Containers with Explosives, and do hereby declare that thefollowing is a full, clear, and

exact description thereof.

My invention relates particularly to an apparatus designed for fillingcontainers with explosives, but it has reference especially to thefilling of explosive shells in this manner.

The object of my invention is to provide a device by means of whichcontainers and particularly explosive shells may be filled withexplosives in an expeditious and effective manner, and in such a way asto leave a cavity of the exact dimensions required for receiving abooster or other detonating agent. In the filling of explosives intocontainers of this character and particularly into shells, it is desiredto pour the molten explosive into the container, but it is necessary toprovide in the body of said explosive a cavity equipped with a shoulder,the same being of such dimensions as to accurately fit the booster orother detonating agent when inserted therein, and heretofore such cavityand shoulder have been made by drilling out the explosive after cooling.I have discovered that more advantageous results may be obtained by theuse of a former and pouring the molten explosive into the container orshell around said former. By this means, the bodies of explosives withthe desired cavities may be provided with a minimum amount of labor andtime, as well as at a minimum cost. The object of my invention is,therefore, tov accomplish these results while avoiding the disadvantagesof previous apparatus used for this purpose.

Further objects of my invention will appear from the detaileddescription thereof hereinafter.

While my invention is capable of being carried out in many differentways, for the purpose of illustration I shall describe only one form ofapparatus made in accordance with my invention and shown in theaccompanying drawings, in which:

Figs. 1 and 2 show an apparatus applied to the filling of shells.

Fig. 3 is a vertical section enlarged of the former used for the samewith the punch shown in Fig. 10 inserted.

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the same.

Fig. 5 is a vertical section of a. modified kind of former.

Fig. 6 is a plan view of the same.

Fig. 7 is a vertical section of another modified kind of former.

Fig. 8 is a plan view of the same.

Fig. 9 is a plan view of a rod used for detaching the former from theshell.

Fig. 10 is a vertical section of a punch used for removing the head ofsolid explosive from the former, and

Fig. 11 is a plan view of the same.

In the drawings, referring to Figs. 1, 3, 4, 9, 10 and 11 the apparatusis shown as applied to the filling of a shell 1 having a main body ofpressed explosive 2 therein containing a cavity 3 which is to be filledwith a molten explosive 4. In order to introduce the molten explosive 4into the shell 1, and retain a cavity 5 with a shoulder 6 of suchaccurate dimensions as to exactly fit the booster or other detonator tobe later inserted, a former 7 is introduced into the shell, the samecomprising a downwardly directed tapered projection 8 having at itsupper end a cup-shaped portion 9 provided with a flange 10 and ashoulder 11 adjacent to the projection 8, containing a plurality ofholes 12 with bevelled edges 13 to provide cutting edges 14 for apurpose to be hereinafter described. The flange 10 has a plurality ofoppositely arranged holes 15 to receive an operating lever 16, so as todetach the former 7 and the head of the body of explosive from the bodyof hardened explosive located in the interior of the shell 1, therotation having the efiect of cutting the body of explosive at thepoints where the holes 12 are located. After the former 7 carrying thehead has been removed from the shell 1, the head may be removed from theformer 7 by the use of a punch 17 comprising a hollow cylinder 18adapted to fit over the extension 8, and a plurality of rods or pins 19toenter the holes 12, and push out the body of explosive. The partsshown in Fig. 2 are constructed the same as the parts shown in Fig. 1,but illustrated in this instance a different arrangement of the bodiesof explosive in the shell from what is shown in Fig. 1. In Fig. 2 isshown a shell 19' having a main body of explosive 20, and an auxiliarybody of explosive 21, which may be introduced in the shell while in amolten condition in the same manner as heretofore described.

The modification of my invention shown in Figs. 5 and 6 is the same asthe form of my invention shown in Figs. 3 and 4. except that in thisinstance, the width of the parts is smaller, and feeding holes 22 areprovided around the same, which extend for a short distance into adownward extending projection 23 located on this former;

The modification of my invention shown in Figs. 7 and 8 is constructedexactly the same as the form of my invention shown in Figs. 3 and 4.,except for the proportions. and except for the use of elongated bevelledholes 24 which are made narrow to provide sufiicient size for thefeeding of the molten explosive Without increasing the width of theformer.

In the operation of my invention, referring first to Figs. '1, 3, 4, 9,10 and 11, the shell 1 is filled with a body of explosive 2, such forexample as amatol or T. N. T. (amatolztrinitrotoluol, C H,,N,,O andammonium nitrate, NH NO T.N.T.:trinitrotoluol as above) pressed intoplace in any suitable manner. Thereafter, the former 7 isinserted untilthe flange 16) rests upon the upper edge of said shell. A moltenexplosive, suchfor example as amatol or T. N.T. (amatol:trinitrotoluol,C,H,N,() and ammonium nitrate NH NO T. N. T.:trinitrotoluol) is nowpoured into the cup-shaped portion 9, and is fed through the openings 12into the shell until all of the cavity below the openings 12 has beenfilled, and a quantity of the molten explosive extends above saidopenings. The molten explosive 4 is now allowed to cool and harden.While hardening, however, the shrinkage in the.

volume of the explosive is taken care of by the presence of theexplosive in the cupshaped portion 9, so that when said explosive hasbecome entirely hardened the entire cavity below the c shaped portion 9will be completely fillt thus providing a cavity with a shoulder or heexact shape and size required for receivi? ,i' the booster or otherdetonating device to be inserted into the shell. The lever bar 16 is nowinserted in oneof the holes 15. and the former 7 is rotated, so as tocut the head of the explosive away from the body thereof located beneaththe holes 12, by the aid of the cutting edges 14- pr .vided around saidholes 12. The

former 7 together with the head of explosive may now be readily removed,whereupon the shell 1 is ready to receive the booster or otherdetonating device, and finished in any desired manner. In order toremove the head of explosive from the former 7, the punch 17 is insertedover the projection 8 with the pins 19 opposite the openings 12, and thepunch is now given a sharp blow which drives the head of explosive outof the former 7. The former is now in condition for use in fillingthenext shell in the same manner as abovedescribed, and the heads ofexplosive may be melted over again for filling succeeding shells. Inthis way shells may be filled with molten explosive in such a manner asto avoid the necessity of subsequently drilling out an accurately shapedand sized cavity for receiving the booster or other detonating device,while at the same time, the quantities of explosives left in the headare comparatively small, so that very little remelting of explosives isrequired.

The shell 19 shown in Fig. 2 is filled in the same manner, except thatin this instance, the former 7 is inserted before any explosive isintroduced into the shell, and then a quantity of molten explosive 20,as for example amatol or T. N. T. is poured into the shell. Thereafter,a quantity of molten explosive 21, as for example amatol or T. N. T. isalso ured in in the same manner as the b0 y of explosive 4 previouslyreferred to.

The formers shown in Figs. 5, 6, 7 and 8 operate in the same manner asthe former 7 previously referred to.

Vhile I have described my invention above in detail, I wish it to beunderstood that within the scope of the claims many changes may be madetherein without departing from the spirit thereof.

I claim:

1. A former designed to feed molten explosives through the' base openingof a shell, said former comprising a depending extnsion, at cup-shapedportion for reception in said base opening and having its internaldiameter approximating that ol said opening, and an opening for feedingthe explosive from the cup-shaped portion around the extension.

2. A former designed to feed in ,I plosives through the base opening o fa hell, said forn'ier' comprising de 7' tension, a. cup-shaped portionin said h opening and havin diameter approximating that or ing, andopening for feedin sive from the ciip-sl aped por i openaround theextension, said cup-shaped poi (fill illoving a shoulder in which the ining' is located. M i

3. A for designed. to feed llO plosives through the base opening of ashell, said former comprising a depending extension, a cup-shapedportion for reception in said base opening and having its internaldiameter approximating that of said opening, an opening for feeding theexplosive from the cup-shaped portion around the extension, saidcup-shaped portion having a shoulder in which the opening is located,and the upper part of said former having means whereby an implement maybe engaged for turning the former.

4. A. former designed to feed molten explosives comprising a dependingextension, a cup-shaped portion, a sharp edged opening for feeding theexplosive from the cup shaped portion around the extension.

5. A former designed to feed molten cxplosives comprising a dependingextension, a cup-shaped portion, and a sharp edged opening for feedingthe explosive from the cup-shaped portion around the extension, saidcup-shaped portion having a shoulder in which the opening is located.

6. A former designed to feed molten explosives through the base openingof a shell, said former comprising a depending extension, a cup-shapedportion for reception in said base opening and having its internaldiameter approximating that of said opening, a sharp edged opening forfeeding the explosive from the cup-shaped portion around the extension,said cup-shaped portion having a shoulder in which the opening islocated. and a hole at the upper edge for the insertion of a hand lever.

7. In combination, a former designed to feed molten explosivescomprising a depending extension, a cup-shaped portion, an opening forfeeding the explosive from the cup shaped portion around the extension,

and a punch adapted to fit over the projection and provided with a pinto fit in the opening.

8. In combination, a former designed to feed molten explosivescomprising a depending extension, a cup-shaped port-ion, an opening forfeeding the explosive from the cup-shaped portion around the extension,said cup-shaped portion having a shoulder in which the opening islocated, and a punch adapted to fit over the rojection and provided witha pin to fit 1n the opening.

9. In combination, a former designed to feed molten explosivescomprising a depending extension, a cup-shaped portion, an opening forfeeding the explosive from the cup-shaped portion around the extension,said cup-shaped portion. having a shoulder in which the opening islocated, a hole for a hand lever provided at the upper edge, and a punchadapted to fit over the projection and provided with a pin to fit in theopenin 10. punch for use with a former for cleaning the same, suchformer comprising a head portion and a depending extension, said headportion havin an opening adjacent said extension; sai punch comprisingan extended member centrally recessed to be received upon and guided bysaid extension, and a pin extending forwardly from said recess said pinbeing spaced from said recess in correspondence with the spacing of saidextension and said opening in said head portion.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand.

THOMAS MALCOLM DAVIDSON.

Witnesses:

C. LEON JOHNSON, JAMES Summon Bnowxn,

